Frequently Asked Questions

eCommBackup Backup – a very simple, secure and robust online backup solution. eCommBackup Backup keeps a copy of your files safely online, so that if they are lost or damaged you can retrieve them quickly and easily.
eCommBackup Briefcase – a place to put the files you use most regularly, and access them absolutely anywhere. eCommBackup Briefcase appears as a new drive on your PC, and you can use it just like any other drive, but your Briefcase files are also copied online and you can view or edit them from any web browser. If you install eCommBackup Briefcase on more than one computer, all of the files are the same on every PC, and changes you make on one machine are replicated across all of your other computers.
eCommBackup for Business – a complete cloud storage solution for your business. Backup every PC in your office using eCommBackup Backup; give every user in your company a eCommBackup Briefcase; and create Team Folders that are synced between sets of users – they’re great for collaboration and sharing files between departments.

When you sign up for eCommBackup you can purchase eCommBackup Backup just by itself, eCommBackup Briefcase by itself, or Pro Suite – which is a combination of eCommBackup Backup and eCommBackup Briefcase in one simple package. eCommBackup for Business is available in our For Business section.

What is the difference between eCommBackup Backup and eCommBackup Briefcase?
eCommBackup Backup is a very simple (yet powerful) online backup solution. You choose which folders you want to backup, and eCommBackup backup will work in the background to protect the contents of those folders while you work. You can set it up and forget about it.

eCommBackup Briefcase is our flexible and innovative access-anywhere product, that lets you access your files wherever you go, and see the same files on all of your PCs. eCommBackup Briefcase will change the way that you view files – no longer are they static objects on one computer, but they go with you wherever you go and you never need be without them again.

How much does eCommBackup cost?

eCommBackup provides three different consumer packages – eCommBackup Backup, eCommBackup Briefcase and eCommBackup Pro Suite. eCommBackup Backup is £3.95 per month or £40 per year; eCommBackup Briefcase is £9.95 per month or £99 per year; and eCommBackup Pro Suite is £11.95 per month or £120 per year.

There are no charges for bandwidth – all of our packages come with unlimited bandwidth. Our eCommBackup Backup package also comes with unlimited online storage space – meaning that you can backup your entire PC without worrying about space. eCommBackup Briefcase comes with a stunning 2TB (2,048GB) of storage space, while eCommBackup Pro Suite boosts this up to an amazing 5TB of space. That’s far more space than most PCs or hard drives – plus you can add more later if you want. We charge £5 per month per terabyte for additional space.

All eCommBackup products have a 14 day free trial – you don’t even need to enter a credit card to create your account and it takes seconds to sign up. If you pay up-front for one year’s service you get an additional 10% discount. You can cancel within 14 days and get a full refund – no questions asked.

Where are my files stored?

Your files are usually stored both on your own computer and in eCommBackup’s state-of-the-art data centres. By storing your files in both places you can be sure that you have access to your files and can use them as normal even when you’re not online.

eCommBackup data centres use cutting edge, military grade technology to make sure that your data is both safe and highly accessible. Our main data centre is in London, UK.

What does unlimited storage space mean?
Our backup accounts come with unlimited online storage. Unlimited storage space means that you can put as much as you want on your eCommBackup without worrying about it – and can therefore backup your entire PC, no matter how much stuff you have on it. Many of our customers store hundreds of gigabytes, some store over a terabyte. We don’t limit the amount you backup, nor do we limit the amount you upload or download to the eCommBackup servers (the bandwidth). You really can use eCommBackup as much as you want.

Do you ever limit bandwidth or transfer speeds?
No – there are not any limits on how much bandwidth you can use each month. Nor are there limits on the speed of your transfers beyond the natural limits of technology – our data centres have super fast connections. Unlike some other providers we don’t punish you for making use of our service by throttling your bandwidth just because you store a lot.

How secure is eCommBackup?

eCommBackup is very secure. Our data centres use military-grade technology to keep your files encrypted and safe. We support SSL transfers between your PC and our servers too, so there’s no risk of people intercepting your data while it is uploaded or downloaded.

All of the data that you put on eCommBackup is backed up redundantly across multiple locations, so it is fully protected against hardware failure or other damage.

Why do I need eCommBackup?
Over 60% of users have lost irreplaceable data from their computer. The files you store on your computer – photos, music, videos, emails and documents – are increasingly precious, but they’re so easy to lose. Hard drive failure, fire, theft or even just accidental user error can wipe out highly important content in seconds.

Before eCommBackup you could only back up your data to CDs, DVDs, external drives or even backup tape, but all of this takes effort, you need to remember to do it, and they’re about as susceptible to failure, loss and damage as the PC itself.

eCommBackup gets rid of this problem completely by providing a simple, secure and robust online backup solution. Just install it, select which folders you want to backup and forget about it. There’s no need to schedule your backups or leave your PC on overnight – it backs up your files as you work. There’s no limit on how much you back up either, so it’s completely hassle free.

eCommBackup Briefcase takes this one step further by setting your files free and letting you access them wherever you are. See the same files on every computer you use – you can use them just like any other file on your computer, but if you change them, they will automatically change on all of your other PCs. View and even edit your documents online from any web browser anywhere. Even access your files on your go from your mobile.

Where can I get a eCommBackup account?
Just sign up at www.eCommBackup.com. It takes minutes to get a fully featured 14 day free trial – you don’t even need to enter your credit card number.

Is there a free version of eCommBackup?
There is no free version of eCommBackup, but we do provide a 14 day no-obligation free trial. You don’t even need to enter your credit card number – just click here to sign up.

Can I try out eCommBackup before buying it?

Yes – click here to sign up for our free 14 day no-obligation free trial. You don’t even need to enter your credit card number – it only takes a minute to get started!

How do I change from a free trial to a paid account?

When you log in to your free trial account you will see an announcement on your Home tab – this announcement explains how to enter your billing details so that when your trial ends you are upgraded to a fully paid account. You won’t have to pay then – you’ll only be charged when the free trial expires.

Which operating systems does eCommBackup support?

The eCommBackup desktop software runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6.

The eCommBackup web portal can be used by all of the major web browsers, including Internet Explorer 7 or later, Firefox 2 or later and Safari 3 or later. Some features on the web portal require recent versions of Java or Flash.

The eCommBackup mobile portal can be used by most mobile web browsers, including Opera – just visit http://m.eCommBackup.com/ on your phone to get started. There is dedicated support for iPhone and Blackberry users, and a free app for iPhone and iPad is available from the iTunes App Store.

Can the Desktop Software run from a FAT32 drive?

Drives can be configured in many different formats. Most modern drives are configured in a format called NTFS, but some drives use a much older format called FAT32. Although the eCommBackup Desktop Software can be configured to store its cache on a FAT32 drive, it is recommended that you use an NTFS-formatted drive instead if possible. This is because the eCommBackup Desktop Software stores information about your files in a folder on your chosen cache drive, and FAT32 is limited to 15,000 files per folder. This means that if you put a lot of files on your Briefcase, or backup a large number of files with Backup, then the eCommBackup Desktop Software will stop syncing correctly.

When installing eCommBackup on your PC, the Desktop Software will try to select an NTFS drive to use by default. If you try to select a FAT32 drive instead, the installer will warn you.

Note that this will not affect the folders that you choose to backup with eCommBackup Backup. If you want to backup files on a drive that’s formatted in FAT32 then you will experience no problems at all, as long as your eCommBackup cache is on an NTFS drive.

What are the minimum system requirements for eCommBackup?

1 GHz Intel or equivalent CPU
512 MB of RAM
Windows XP/Vista/7/Server 2003 or Later
Broadband Internet Connection
Internet Explorer 7 or higher/Firefox 2.0 or higher/Google Chrome/Safari
The latest versions of Java and Flash.

How can I keep up with news at eCommBackup?

You can keep up with the latest news at eCommBackup by visiting our Blog, You can also view our service status page to keep track of any planned maintenance.

eCommBackup Backup

What is eCommBackup Backup?
eCommBackup Backup is a simple and secure online backup solution – it keeps a copy of your files safely online, so that if the files are ever lost or damaged you can restore them quickly and easily. eCommBackup Backup is very easy to set up, and once it’s configured you can just forget about it. Sign up now.

What makes eCommBackup Backup special?
There are many things about eCommBackup Backup that make it stand out from other backup solutions. Here are just a few of them:

Extremely easy to set up – our simple step-by-step setup wizard helps you choose which files you want to backup. It literally takes a minute, and once you’re done, you don’t need to worry about it ever again.
Backs up your files as you work – you don’t need to worry about leaving your computer on overnight, or your backup suddenly starting up at a set time when you’re trying to do something else. You certainly don’t need to remember to do anything. eCommBackup Backup just silently backs up your files as you work, so as soon as you change a file it’s instantly protected.
Stored off-site for complete safety – unlike backing up to an external drive, CD or DVD, eCommBackup Backup copies your files to our secure servers in our carrier-grade data centres. This means that if the worst should happen- fire or theft – your data is still securely backed up in a completely different location to your PC.
Completely unlimited storage space – you can back up as much as you want with eCommBackup. You don’t need to worry about your CD, DVD or backup tape being full – it will just keep backing up no matter how much you have on your PC.
Restore previous versions of files – sometimes a file is not lost or damaged, it’s just been changed in a way you don’t want. Maybe someone made alterations to a file and you need to restore it to a previous version. With eCommBackup Backup you can – it stores the last 30 versions of any file, and you can download the older editions with one click.
View your backup files online from anywhere – your backups are not compressed into some obscure format or hidden in a dusty filing cabinet – they’re live online. Simply log in to your secure web portal and view them from anywhere. You can even play your music, view your Office documents, watch your movies and display your photos right from within your web browser!

How do I download and install the Backup software?
To download the eCommBackup Desktop software simply login to your web portal, click on the Account Settings tab and select Software Download. This page will show you how to download and install the latest version – it’s very easy and literally takes minutes.

How do I choose which files to backup?
When you first install the eCommBackup Desktop software the welcome wizard will guide you through selecting the folders you want to backup.

Once eCommBackup Backup is installed and running, you can add any folder to the backup list just by right clicking on it and selecting Backup with eCommBackup Backup:

Screenshot of backup software

Or on a Mac, select the folders in Finder, and then select “Selected Files” > “Backup this folder” from the eCommBackup menu next to your clock at the top right of your screen. eCommBackup will then upload the contents of that folder in the background. In future eCommBackup will monitor the folder and any files you add or change will be uploaded instantly in the background as you work.

Advanced users can easily manage all of the folders you want to backup by opening the eCommBackup Settings screen in your Windows Control Panel, clicking on the Services tab and selecting “Select folders and files to backup”. From here you can manually add and remove folders to your backup.

When does eCommBackup Backup run?
eCommBackup Backup doesn’t run to a schedule – it just works in the background and constantly backs up your files as you work. Therefore you don’t need to keep your PC on overnight or worry about whether the backup ran at a certain time – your files are protected all of the time.

How do I schedule a backup?
eCommBackup Backup does not currently have a scheduled backup option – it constantly protects your files as you work. If you change a file or add a file to the folders that you are protecting, eCommBackup Backup will instantly upload it without interrupting you.

Where can I see the files I’ve backed up?
The files that you’ve backed up are all available from your secure web portal. Login with your eCommBackup account e-mail address and password, and click on the Backup tab – you’ll be able to browse your files just like you can in Windows. You can download files or folders from here with one click, but you can also do so much more – you can watch your movies, view your Office documents, play your music and display your photos right from within your web browser!

What happens if I delete a file from my PC?
If you delete a file on your PC then it is moved to the Recycle Bin in your web portal (even if it isn’t in your Recycle Bin in Windows). It stays here for at least 30 days, so you can restore it quickly and easily. To access your Recycle Bin, login to your web portal, click on the Backup tab and see the Recycle Bin in the left hand navigation.

How can I restore multiple files?

Whether you want to restore you files on a new computer or are recovering from an unfortunate incident, eCommBackup Restore lets your browse your eCommBackup Backup account, select any file or folder and then restore it straight to your PC, either in its original location or any location you choose. To download and install the eCommBackup Restore. Login to your account, select Account Settings and look for the Download software link on the right. The installer will take you through everything you need to set up eCommBackup Restore – it only takes a few minutes!

Can I get access to previous versions of files?

Yes – eCommBackup Backup keeps up to the last 30 versions of any file. Login to your web portal, click on the Backup tab and navigate to the file. Double click on the file to view it’s properties – you’ll see a list of historical versions here and can download whichever one you want.

Alternatively, if you are using eCommBackup Restore, simply right-click on a file and select View Older Versions or select Versions from the toolbar to see a list and restore any historical versions.

Can I restore deleted items?

Yes – both the eCommBackup Web Portal and eCommBackup Restore let you access deleted items. Simply look for the entry in your toolbar called “Show Deleted Items”.

Can I edit or delete files online in eCommBackup Backup?

No – you can’t make any changes to files from the web portal. eCommBackup Backup is designed to keep an exact copy of what you have on your computer online, so you can’t edit it online.

If you want to the ability to edit, move, delete or rename files online, try eCommBackup Briefcase – our powerful access-anywhere service. Find out about the difference between eCommBackup Backup and eCommBackup Briefcase on our package comparison page.

Can I upload files to eCommBackup Backup online?
No – you can’t upload new files to eCommBackup Backup online. eCommBackup Backup is a direct copy of the files you have on your computer. If you want the ability to upload files from anywhere and have them appear on your PC, try our eCommBackup Briefcase service. For a comparison between eCommBackup Backup and eCommBackup Briefcase, see our package comparison page.

Can I use eCommBackup Backup on multiple computers?

The eCommBackup Backup package is for use only on one computer. You can buy multiple eCommBackup Backup subscriptions to backup multiple machines. Alternatively, a eCommBackup Pro Suite package lets you backup up to five computers and you get eCommBackup Briefcase too!

How do I remove a data from eCommBackup Backup?
You can easily delete computers from eCommBackup Backup. Login to your eCommBackup web portal, and click on the Backup tab. Select the computer you want to delete and click on Remove Computer in the File Management box on the right hand side. The computer will be removed from your eCommBackup Backup list, and all files contained within it will be deleted. Note that once you’ve deleted a computer from eCommBackup Backup it cannot be undone – you will not be able to access those files from your eCommBackup account, unless they are re-uploaded.

When you delete a computer from your eCommBackup Backup account nothing will happen on your local PC – no local files will be deleted at all.

If you delete a computer from your eCommBackup web portal but decide to keep using the eCommBackup Desktop backup software on that PC then eCommBackup recommend that you run an integrity check to make sure that eCommBackup re-uploads any files that were removed. To do this, go to your eCommBackup Control Panel, go to the Advanced Settings tab, select Maintenance and click on Run – eCommBackup will rescan all of your backup folders and re-upload any deleted files.

How do I add eCommBackup Briefcase to my account?
You can add eCommBackup Briefcase to your eCommBackup Backup account very easily. Just login to your web portal, click on Account Settings and select the “Upgrade” button.

eCommBackup Briefcase

What is eCommBackup Briefcase?
The Briefcase is a place to store files for permanent archiving, sharing with friends and family and editing online. Files are accessible through a web browser, FTP or directly on your PC or Mac. On your PC or Mac your eCommBackup Briefcase appears as a new drive – as if you’d just plugged in a USB stick or external hard drive. You can open and save files on your eCommBackup Briefcase as you would with any other file on your computer.

This means you have 24/7 access to your files from any web connected computer, anywhere in the world.

Any files that you add to your Briefcase on one machine will automatically be synchronised with your other PCs. If you change a file on one PC, the new version will appear on all your other PC’s in an instant! This is the best way of ensuring that you always have a copy of your important files, whether you’re at home or in the office.

Why should I use eCommBackup Briefcase?
Briefcase gives you the option to do away with clunky external drives or expensive hard drives. Access your files from anywhere, anytime!

What do you get with Briefcase that you don’t get with Backup?

Synchronise files between all of your computers
FTP Access
File sharing
Online editing of your documents and pictures
An integrated music browser and player
Web playback for video files
Mobile Access

How can I access my eCommBackup Briefcase?
Files are accessible through a web browser, FTP or on your Mac and PC. To login online simply visit login.eCommBackup.com you’ll see all of your Briefcase files in the Briefcase tab.

This means you have 24/7 access to your files from any web connected computer, anywhere in the world.

How do I get a Briefcase drive on my PC or Mac?
Once you’ve activated your eCommBackup Briefcase and Backup account you will need to install the eCommBackup Desktop software on each of your computers. The Desktop Software automatically adds a new eCommBackup Briefcase drive to your computer. You can use this just like any other drive.

Do I have to have an internet connection to use the Briefcase drive?
You need an internet connection to set up eCommBackup – and if you’re connected to the internet then the Desktop Software will upload and download files to and from your computer whenever you change them. However if you go offline – for example when you’re travelling or at a meeting – the eCommBackup software will let you work offline. You’ll still be able to access all of the files on your eCommBackup, and any changes you make will be synced up the next time you connect to the internet.

Why does the Briefcase drive show less space than I have in my eCommBackup account?
Because eCommBackup caches files on your Briefcase drive for offline access, the amount of space shown against the Briefcase drive on your computer is limited to the size of your hard drive. If you don’t want files to be cached on your local drive, you can simply right click on them and select “Do not keep on this computer” – that will free up space on your computer, but will mean those files can’t be accessed when your computer is offline.

Where are files on my Briefcase drive actually stored?
Your Briefcase files are all stored online. But if you’ve installed the eCommBackup Desktop Software, copies are also stored on your computer’s local hard drive too. This allows you to access files on your eCommBackup Briefcase when you are offline.

What if I don’t want Briefcase files stored on my hard drive, but want them only online?
If you don’t want files to be cached on your local drive, you can simply right click on them and select “Do not keep on this computer” – that will free up space on your computer, but will mean those files can’t be accessed when you computer is offline. You can also change your eCommBackup Briefcase settings so that you don’t automatically download any files that you’ve added to eCommBackup from another computer. To do this, go to your eCommBackup Control Panel, select Online Files, and click “Do not keep files on my computer”.

Can I change the drive letter from L: to something else?
The default installation of eCommBackup will select ‘L’ as your drive letter. If, for some reason, ‘L’ is not available an alternative will be selected automatically. To manually change your drive letter:

Select the ‘Advanced’ tab in the eCommBackup Control panel

Select the ‘Drive settings’ tab

Choose a drive letter from the drop down list

Click ‘OK’

Can I use eCommBackup Briefcase on multiple computers?
eCommBackup Briefcase can be installed on as multiple computers at no extra cost. All of your Briefcase files will be synced automatically between every computer where eCommBackup is installed.

Can I use eCommBackup Briefcase on my Linux computer?
Our Linux client is currently under development. An official release date has not been set at the moment, but more information will be posted on the website when it will be available. We are aiming to release it soon.

In the meanwhile you may access your eCommBackup from your Linux computer using FTP or the eCommBackup web portal. For more information on FTP, please see this page: http://www.eCommBackup.com/ftp.aspx

How can I see my Briefcase files online?
Login to the web portal at www.eCommBackup.com/login and select the Briefcase tab.

Your entire Briefcase is replicated here giving you access to all your files and folders from any web connected browser.

Can I upload files to my Briefcase from anywhere?
Your personalised web portal has integrated Java and Flash web uploaders. These allow you to upload files and folders to your Briefcase wherever you may be.

Can I edit or delete files online?
Files and folders can be deleted via the web browser. Any files or folders that are deleted in this manner will be hidden from your web portal – until you select Show Deleted Files in the web portal toolbar. Files or folders deleted by mistake can be recovered by using the Show Deleted Files feature and then right clicking on them and selecting Undelete. Deleted files will be permanently removed from your account after 30 days.

Certain file types can be edited using the web plugins. When you view the file, a list of available web plugins will appear – including Zoho for editing document files or Picnik for editing photographs.

How can I restore a previous version of a file?

eCommBackup keeps a history of every file on your account, if you need to revert to a previous version of a document, first locate and open the file within your web portal, you will see a version list including the version date and computer that uploaded the file. Once you have located the version you which to rollback to click the ‘Revert’ link, any computers linked to your account will automatically synchronise the selected version of the file.

How can I play music from my web browser?
All your MP3 files will be automatically added to the eCommBackup Music Browser. You can search by artist, album or song title and even create a playlist! Once you have found the MP3s you want to play, simply select Play All from the toolbar in your web portal and the music player will appear with your tracks listed.

What are applications and how can I install them?
The web portal allows you to use plugins to edit documents online, any changes you make will be automatically synchronised with any computers linked to your account.

We currently support the following file types:

Microsoft Word (.doc/ .docx)
Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt/.pps/.pptx)
Microsoft Excel (.xls)
OpenOffice Text Document (.odt, .sxw)
OpenOffice Presentation Document (.odp, .sxi)
OpenOffice Spreadsheet (.ods, .sxc)
Plain text (.txt)
JPEG Images (.jpg)

You can enable or disable the applications you want to use on your web portal by going to Settings > Applications.

How can I see my Briefcase files on my mobile?
You can access your eCommBackup account on the move by visiting m.eCommBackup.com or via the iPhone/iPad app. The app is free from the iTunes App Store – just search the App Store for “eCommBackup” to download it. For more information, see our Mobile FAQs

Can I use FTP to access my eCommBackup Briefcase?

Both FTP and the eCommBackup software can be used to access files from your PC like a normal hard drive. However, the eCommBackup software is significantly faster than FTP and includes advanced features such as caching. It’s also fully integrated with eCommBackup meaning, for example, you can right click on your files to share them. eCommBackup recommends using the Windows Desktop Sync software instead of FTP.

More details can be found here www.eCommBackup.com/ftp

Can anyone else see files on my Briefcase?
eCommBackup uses military grade, AES-256 security to encrypt all communications between a user’s computer and our servers. Data stored on your eCommBackup is backed up on to multiple storage servers at our data centres ensuring your data is fully protected. Our network is protected by enterprise-grade firewalls ensuring that once your data is on our servers only the people you want to access your data can.

How can I let others see my Briefcase files?
You can share files via the web simply by navigating to the file or folder you wish to share on your web-portal and selecting share. You will have the option of sharing publicly (so that anyone can access your file via a web URL) or privately with a specific individual. When sharing privately you specify the e-mail address of the person you wish to share with and they will receive a private link in their e-mail to download your file.

You can also share files using the eCommBackup Desktop Software. Simply open your eCommBackup by opening My Computer and double clicking on your eCommBackup, right click on the file or folder you wish to share and select share from the menu.

Can I stop sharing a file?
To stop sharing a file or folder, right click on it and select the sharing option from the eCommBackup menu. From the window that appears you can opt to turn off sharing. At that point, anyone that you’ve previously shared with will not be able to access the file – although they may have downloaded it to their computer already and have their own copy.

eCommBackup Desktop Software

What is the eCommBackup Desktop Software?

The eCommBackup Desktop Software makes using eCommBackup easy! If you are eCommBackup Backup customer it works in the background to protect your precious files as you work. If you are a eCommBackup Briefcase customer it adds a new drive to your computer – the Briefcase drive – where you can access your eCommBackup Briefcase. If you are a eCommBackup for Business customer, the desktop software powers your business cloud storage – providing easy access to your personal Briefcases and Team Folders. No matter which type of eCommBackup account you have, you only need to install one piece of software on your computer – the eCommBackup Desktop Software.

Is the software free?
Absolutely. The eCommBackup desktop software comes free with any eCommBackup Backup or eCommBackup Pro Suite account.

I have Backup and Briefcase, so do I need two pieces of software?
No – the eCommBackup desktop software is the same for both Backup and Briefcase users, but just shows different features depending on the type of account you have. If you upgrade your account from a Backup account to a Backup and Briefcase account then the software will automatically display all of the Briefcase features the next time it starts.

Where do I get the Desktop Software from?

To download the latest version of the eCommBackup desktop software, simply login to your eCommBackup web portal, click on the Account Settings tab and select Software Download. The Software Download page will show you how to download and install the software. There’s a version for Windows and a version for Mac OS X.

How do I know when updates are available?
The eCommBackup desktop software automatically checks for updates. When a new version is available you will be alerted by the software itself and guided through the simple update procedure.
eCommBackup will usually e-mail customers about a new software version as well, along with posting to our blog.

Which operating systems does the software support?

The desktop software is currently available for Windows XP, Vista, and 7; and Mac OS X 10.6.

I connect through a proxy – how do I set that up?
Proxies can be configured either when installing the software for the first time, or from the software’s control panel. You can select your proxy when you first set up eCommBackup, or you can go to the eCommBackup Preferences screen and set up proxies from the Advanced tab.

What ports does the eCommBackup client use?
The eCommBackup Desktop Software needs to be able to connect out to the eCommBackup servers on ports 50234 and 50235. If the software is having trouble connecting to eCommBackup, please ask your network administrator to open those ports.

eCommBackup for Mac

Can I use eCommBackup on my Mac?
Yes – the eCommBackup Desktop software is available for Mac. It works in the same way that the eCommBackup Desktop software for Windows works – backing up your files as you work, and showing your eCommBackup Briefcase as a new volume on your Mac.

Is there a Mac version of eCommBackup Restore?

Yes – the eCommBackup Restore app is built into the Mac software itself. No separate download is required. Simply click on the eCommBackup icon at the top right of your screen near your clock, and select Restore From Backup.

Why don’t you support ACL’s, resource forks, symlinks and extended attributes?
The current version is focused on document backup, so doesn’t support some of the more advanced filesystem features in Mac OS. We are working to address these limitations in a future release.

I’ve quit the eCommBackup for Mac application and the Briefcase volume icon hasn’t been removed from my desktop?
This shouldn’t happen but if it does right click on the volume icon and select Eject. Alternatively drag the volume icon to the eject icon in your dock.

How do I uninstall eCommBackup for Mac?
Currently we don’t have an uninstaller. If you wish to completely remove eCommBackup for Mac remove all files from the following locations (an administrator password will be required for some items).

/Library/Application Support/eCommBackup/
/Applications/eCommBackup Client.app
~/Library/Preferences/com.eCommBackup.eCommBackupapp.plist
Cache Directory (contains your cached eCommBackup files) The following are the default locations for the cached directory (you can configure a different cache directory during the welcome/setup process and with options -> online files).
1.0.26.4 ~/Library/Caches/eCommBackup/~LD
1.0.26.31+ ~/.LD

Why do you ask for my Mac password when installing?
We install two tools that run as root – so require your Mac password. ‘updateld’ is used to install and repair the eCommBackup for Mac software as necessary. ‘finderoverlaytool’ is used to insert the eCommBackup Finder badging code into the Finder.

Wouldn’t this be great if it did…?

Let us know we’d love to find out how you think we can improve eCommBackup. There’s a dedicated board on our forums where you can submit feedback and talk to other users about the Mac software – just log in to your eCommBackup account and click on Help then Support Forums. You can also submit your feedback to us at support@eCommBackupsupport.com.

Something’s not working correctly!
If you’re having trouble then our support team will be delighted to help! Please email us at support@eCommBackupsupport.com and we’ll get back to you in 24 hours.

eCommBackup Mobile App

What is the eCommBackup Mobile App?
The eCommBackup Mobile App is a great way to access your files from your iPhone or iPad. It is a free download from the Apple iTunes App store. The app lets you browse your Backup and Briefcase files on the move, wherever you are, and view your documents, play your music or watch your videos – all streamed over 3G or Wi-Fi.

How can I access my files if I don’t have an iPhone / iPad?
The Mobile App is currently only available for iPad or iPhone, but you can also access all of your files from our mobile web portal – just log in at http://m.eCommBackup.com from any smartphone.

How do I get the eCommBackup Mobile App?

To get the eCommBackup Mobile App, just search for “eCommBackup” in the iTunes App Store. The app is free – all you need to use it is your eCommBackup account. Once it’s downloaded just open it and it will ask you for your email address and password to get started.

What features are available in the mobile app?
The eCommBackup Mobile App is packed with useful features. The top features include:

Browse your backups, Briefcase or files that others have shared with you.
View Office, iWorks, RTF or PDF documents anywhere
View photos and create slideshows
Stream all of your music, and browse it by Album, Artist, Genre or Year – even if the music isn’t in iTunes!
Stream your videos – whatever format they’re in. There’s no need to convert them to an iTunes compatible format first.
Upload photos and videos straight from your iPhone to your eCommBackup account.

How does caching work on the mobile app?
When you access a file on the mobile app – unless it’s a video or music file that streams straight from eCommBackup – it is cached locally on your device. This means that when you next want to access it you don’t have to wait for it to download. Once your cache is full, older files that you haven’t used recently will “roll over” and be removed from the cache. If you need more space on your device and want to reduce the cache size, go to Settings and change the Cache Size option – the smaller it is, the less space it will use on your device, but the more likely it is that eCommBackup will have to download files when you view them.

How do I control the speed / quality of video streaming?
You can have complete control over the balance between speed and quality of video playback. For example, if you find that videos are pausing or buffering for too long then you might want to reduce playback quality. To do this, just go to Settings and select Video Bandwidth. There are different settings for both Wi-Fi and 3G, so that you can set preferences for these independently.

What file formats does the app support?
The app supports a wide range of document, photo, video and music formats – which are growing all of the time. Currently the most common formats accepted are:

Documents: DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, PDF, RTF, TXT, HTML, Pages, Keynote, Numbers.
Video: MP4, M4V, MOV, WMV, AVI, MKV, ASF, DIVX, MPEG, OGM, XVID, FLV, VOB.
Photos: JPEG, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP.
Music: MP3, M4A.

Will there be apps for other mobile operating systems?
Yes – they’re on the development list! There are no definitive timescales yet, but we’re hoping to support a wider range of mobile operating systems in near future. When they are released we will announce them on the eCommBackup Blog.

What are sharing accounts?
When a eCommBackup user privately shares a file with someone who does not have a eCommBackup account, eCommBackup creates a free account called a “sharing account”. The recipient is automatically e-mailed their username and password for this account, and can log in to securely see all of the files that have been shared with them.

Sharing accounts are completely free and are not time limited – the user can log in and see the files shared with them for as long as they want.

Sharing accounts have very limited functionality – sharing users cannot upload new files to eCommBackup, install the eCommBackup desktop software or edit files online. Sharing users can upgrade their accounts very easily – simply go to the Account Settings screen and click on Upgrade.

Someone shared a file with me and now I have a eCommBackup account – do I have to pay for it?

No – your sharing account is completely free and you can use it for as long as you want to access the files shared with you. However if you want to take advantage of eCommBackup’s excellent simple, secure backups or access-anywhere features you will need to upgrade to a full paid account. It’s very easy – just go to Account Settings and click on Upgrade.

I want to upgrade my sharing account to a full account – can I do that?
Yes – simply login to your sharing account, select the Account Settings tab and click on Upgrade.

Businesses

What is eCommBackup for Business?
eCommBackup for Business is a powerful cloud storage solution for business customers. It provides a wealth of features that lets you take full advantage of online storage – including backup, remote access, collaboration and sharing features.

What are the main features of eCommBackup for Business?
eCommBackup for Business provides five main tools to help you get the most from cloud storage:

Backup: easily backup all of the PCs in your office, and then restore them whenever you need them
Briefcase: provide every user in the company with a eCommBackup Briefcase, letting them work remotely and sync files between all of their computers
Team Folders: create Team Folders for departments or project groups, which are shared between sets of users that you define. Team Folders are synced between the team’s computers, and are great for collaboration or sharing documents between departments.
Sharing: easily share files with people outside your business. Our one-click sharing lets you send files to other businesses instantly – with no need for large attachments. Recipients can download the files from your business’ branded web portal – all powered by eCommBackup
Automation: access all of your business files using SFTP, WebDav or FTP. Integrate your online storage into existing systems or processes.

What kinds of companies can sign up for eCommBackup for Business?
eCommBackup for Business is perfect for any business – from the sole trader up to large, established companies. Whether you’re a web designer, estate agents or massive retailer, you’ll find that eCommBackup for Business is flexible enough to perfectly match your requirements. We support any number of users – from 1 to 100s – and you can add as many Team Folders as you’d like.

Can I use eCommBackup for Business to connect a mobile workforce?
Yes – eCommBackup for Business is perfect for mobile workers. eCommBackup’s Briefcase and Team Folders features are synced between your team’s computers, and can be accessed anywhere offline. And we also provide mobile apps that let you access your eCommBackup files from your mobile phone.

What software is required to run eCommBackup for Business?
No software is required – you can run everything from our online web portal or using FTP, SFTP and WebDav. However we recommend you use our eCommBackup Desktop software, which makes backups so easy and really brings the power of eCommBackup Briefcase and Team Folders to your desktop. The eCommBackup Desktop software is available for Windows (XP, Vista, 7) and Mac OS X 10.6. The Mac version doesn’t currently support the developer build of Mac OS X Lion – but a version that does is coming soon.

Linux users can use FTP, SFTP or WebDav to mount their Briefcase and Team Folders as a virtual drive on their desktop – replicating much of the functionality of the desktop software. And because we support protocols like FTP, it’s easy to integrate it with existing systems or backup solutions – many of which already support uploading to third parties using such standard protocols.

I’m the systems admin for my company. What control do I get?
We’ve tried to make eCommBackup for Business as transparent as we can. As a systems administrator you get complete control of everything from our Business Admin Portal – you can add users, create team folders, change user permissions, and monitor how your users are using the system. You can completely customise what you want your users to see – for example, do they have a Briefcase or not, do they have Backup or not, can they share files with third parties, can they use the eCommBackup software on multiple PCs etc. You can also allocate other users as Admins, so that they can help you look after your account.

How does the pricing work for eCommBackup for Business?

eCommBackup for Business comes in two packages – Business Express and Business Standard. Business Express is aimed for the small business or sole trader who wants to get set up instantly. It’s an easy solution to quickly backup your PCs and experience the power of eCommBackup Briefcase, eCommBackup’s sharing features, and Team Folders. Business Express is a set fee of $49.95 per month, and it comes with 2TB of storage space and supports up to 3 users. You can create as many Team Folders as you want, but you can’t buy more users or space – instead you need to upgrade to Business Standard as your business grows. Upgrading is easy though – and we’ll pro-rata the upgrade cost based on anything you’ve already paid for your Business Express account.

Business Standard provides much more flexible solution. It comes with support for 10 users and provides 10TB of space for $159.95 per month, but you can upgrade to add more users and more space at any time. Users are $15.95 per month each, and space is $7.95 per month per TB. Upgrades happen instantly through the Business Admin Portal.

What happens if I go over my storage limit on eCommBackup for Business?
We’ve made it as easy as possible to manage your storage space. You allocate quotas to your Team Folders and to each user, and if they go over we’ll email you to let you know. We’ll also email you to let you know if you go over your total account space, and if that occurs ask you to either buy more space or reduce the amount that you are storing. If you don’t do this within a few days then one of our account managers will get in touch to help you through the problem and find the best solution for you. We don’t arbitrarily charge you for anything you haven’t preordered – even if you have accidentally gone over your allotted usage.

How can I get help with my eCommBackup for Business account?
Your eCommBackup for Business admin portal has help built in – just hover over any part of the interface and look for a little question mark that appears. Move your mouse over that question mark to see in-line help. You can also go to the Help & Support section of your admin portal to view tutorials and a quick start guide.

If you get stuck at any point, then our support team will be delighted to help. Simply email business@eCommBackupsupport.com or telephone +44 (0)2031 376 446 to get in touch with one of our support engineers or account managers.

I have questions about eCommBackup for Business before I buy. Who do I contact?
If you need help before you buy then our support team would love to answer your questions. Simply email business@eCommBackupsupport.com or telephone +44 (0)2031 376 446 to get in touch with one of our presales experts.

Troubleshooting

I need help – what support do you provide?
eCommBackup provide 24 hour e-mail support – just e-mail your question to our support team and they’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Our support e-mail address is support@eCommBackupsupport.com

You can also find lots of useful information on this page, our FAQs, and on our blog.

I think there is a problem with my eCommBackup software, what is the first thing I should do?
The eCommBackup Control Panel has a built in repair tool that detects, and then fixes any problems that may occur.

To run the repair tool launch the eCommBackup Control Panel from the shortcut on your desktop. Select the Advanced tab and then the Maintenance tab. Now click Run.

The repair tool usually takes around 15 minutes to complete and the machine must be left idle whilst it completes the tool completes the repair.

If your issues persist please send an email to support@eCommBackupsupport.com with detailed information about your issue.

How do I report a problem with the eCommBackup Desktop software?
If you think you’ve found a problem with the eCommBackup desktop software, please report it from the software itself. Go to your Windows control panel, double click on the eCommBackup icon and then select “Report Problem” from the eCommBackup Account tab:

eCommBackup control panel

How can check the eCommBackup service status?

You can see the eCommBackup service status, including any planned maintenance, at any time by visiting http://www.ecommbackup.co.uk/status/